The ugly, violent side of this Northern Ireland town was on full display once again last night.

Angry mobs went on a rampage through the streets of Ballymena for a second evening as riot police from across this country were drafted in to push back against an escalating ambush.

Hours of blaring sirens were punctured by the relentless sound of bricks and petrol bombs landing on police vehicles.

The main roads became a war zone with fires in the middle of the carriageway, cars ablaze and the crunch of broken glass at our feet as we walked the streets.

Masked and hooded young men were blasted with the water cannon as tensions boiled over in a strained, fragile community.

This has been rumbling for days and began when a vigil, held for a girl who was the victim of an alleged sex attack was, according to police, hijacked by anti-immigration mobs.

Authorities say “racist thugs” used the incident to plot their attacks on foreign people living locally.

One family with three children were said to have hidden in their attic on Monday night as yobs ransacked their home.

Another man told me how he had to drag his 84-year-old mum from her home of 40 years “kicking and screaming” as it was simply not safe anymore.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said.

On Tuesday, many displayed posters on their windows in a desperate bid to ensure their house did not become a target. Others draped union jack flags on full display.

“British residents,” one piece of paper stated.

There is a feeling among the crowds here in Ballymena that the police branding them racists has escalated this row further.

In a horrifying twist, we got word in the middle of the night that another house had been firebombed.

When we arrived at the scene, it was a charred shell. The property was completely gutted.

Neighbours described how several hundred “protesters” had gathered outside before hounding the foreign occupants out. One woman was pacing up and down, crying in distress at what happened.

Another man, who lived a few doors, down hinted that this community had “had enough” of “people moving in”. He lambasted the media and refused to engage any further.

As I drove out of Ballymena at 1.30am I witnessed other families dragging suitcases full of their belongings through the streets. They were flanked by riot police, armed with shields, who helped them to safety in a late-night escape.

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It is hard to see where this ends.

The talk here is that this unrest is only just beginning.

It could go on for weeks – and already there are questions about the pressure that will pile on police who will be desperate to de-escalate this mess.

Fireworks, petrol bombs and glass bottles have been thrown at riot police as unrest in Ballymena continued for a second night.

Water cannon and plastic baton rounds were used to disperse hundreds of protesters in the Co Antrim town – with officers wearing armour and carrying shields.

Several blazes were reported in the worst-affected areas, with cars set alight and house windows smashed. Police sirens continued to blare throughout the town past midnight.

Clothes belonging to at least one protester caught fire during the disorder.

Some properties displayed signs about the nationality of the residents inside – including one saying “British household”.

Sky correspondent Connor Gillies, who is in Ballymena, says some families have had to barricade themselves into the attics of their homes as the clashes worsen.

“The talk here in this town is that it could go on for weeks yet,” he added.

The violent disorder started on Monday, following a peaceful protest supporting the family of a girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted in the area over the weekend.

Two 14-year-old boys were charged with attempted rape and were remanded in custody when they appeared at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on Monday. The charges were read to them by a Romanian interpreter.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said on Tuesday that it had made a third arrest in connection with the alleged rape, and is continuing to urge anyone with information to come forward.

The 28-year-old man has since been unconditionally released from custody following questioning.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson described the scenes in Ballymena as “racist thuggery” and said the force was “actively working to identify those responsible” for the “racially motivated disorder”.

Mr Henderson said people from ethnic minorities have “felt fear” – and there will be a significant policing operation in the town in the coming days to reassure the community.

At least 15 police officers were injured on Monday.

A 29-year-old man was arrested during the unrest on Monday night and charged with riotous and disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police.

Mr Henderson said other arrests are expected following the examination of video footage.

Local MP Jim Allister said tensions over immigration had been building for some time.

Mr Henderson said there was no intelligence suggesting the disorder was orchestrated, but added that some at the protest were “clearly intent on violence” and had prepared petrol bombs and masonry to use as missiles.

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Downing Street said there was “no justification” for the violence.

Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman said: “The disorder we saw in Ballymena is very concerning.”

He added: “Obviously, the reports of sexual assault in the area are extremely distressing, but there is no justification for attacks on police officers while they continue to protect local communities.

“PSNI and the justice system must be allowed to carry out their jobs and our thoughts are with the victims of the assault as well as the police officers who were injured.”

Hilary Benn, secretary of state for Northern Ireland, said on X that the “terrible scenes of civil disorder” seen on Monday and Tuesday night “have no place in Northern Ireland”.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will set out plans in the spending review on Wednesday to invest billions of pounds across Britain, as she admits “too many people” are “yet to feel” the benefits of the government’s work so far.

In a statement in the House of Commons, the chancellor will vow to spend vast sums of money across the country to “ensure that renewal is felt in people’s everyday lives, their jobs, their communities”.

As well as confirming the budgets for each government department for the next three years, the Treasury says Ms Reeves will announce plans to invest billions in security, health, and the economy more broadly.

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The chancellor will set out “reforms that will guarantee towns and cities outside London and the South East can benefit from new investment”, the department said.

Ms Reeves is expected to say: “This government is renewing Britain. But I know too many people in too many parts of the country are yet to feel it.

“This government’s task – my task – and the purpose of this spending review – is to change that. To ensure that renewal is felt in people’s everyday lives, their jobs, their communities. So that people can see a doctor when they need one. Know that they are secure at work. And feel safe on their local high street.

“The priorities in this spending review are the priorities of working people. To invest in our country’s security, health and economy so working people all over our country are better off.”

Watch live coverage of the spending review on Sky News from 12pm

Ms Reeves will also formally confirm “the biggest ever local transport infrastructure investment in England’s city regions”, worth £15.6bn, as well as £86bn to “boost science and technology”, including by building the Sizewell C nuclear power station.

She will also announce the extension of the £3 cap on bus fares, Sky News understands. The cap – which Labour lifted from £2 – was due to expire at the end of this year.

And £39bn for a new Affordable Homes Programme over the next 10 years is also expected to be announced, as the government seeks to ramp up housebuilding to hit its manifesto pledge of building 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament.

The chancellor will argue: “The choices in this spending review are possible only because of the stability I have introduced and the choices I took in the autumn.”

One of those choices included cutting the winter fuel allowance for almost all pensioners – a decision the government has now U-turned on, at a cost of £1.25bn. However, she is not expected to explain where that money will come from until the budget this autumn.

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Ms Reeves will tell MPs: “I have made my choices. In place of chaos, I choose stability. In place of decline, I choose investment. In place of retreat, I choose national renewal.

“These are my choices. These are this government’s choices. These are the British people’s choices.”

But shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said this will be “the ‘spend today, tax tomorrow’ spending review”, arguing that the government is “spending money it doesn’t have, with no credible plan to pay for it”.

He said in a statement: “Rachel Reeves talks about ‘hard choices’ – but her real choice has been to take the easy road. Spend more, borrow more, and cross her fingers. This spending review won’t be a plan for the future – it will be a dangerous gamble with Britain’s economic stability.”

He went on: “Today, we’ll hear slogans, spin and self-congratulation – but not the truth. Don’t be fooled. Behind the spin lies a dangerous economic gamble that risks the country’s financial future.”

Watch live coverage of the spending review on Sky News from 12pm